LA MAR DOHA BY GASTÓN ACURIO — PERUVIAN SOUL AT THE PINNACLE OF WORLD GASTRONOMY

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Honored with the AMBASSADOR OF GLOBAL TASTE™ International Certification Mark - 5 STAR SIGNAGE for 2027

 

AMBASSADORS OF TASTE FOR THE GLOBAL GASTRONOMY® organization and guide together with its Jury Panel, has conferred the AMBASSADOR OF GLOBAL TASTE™ International Certification Mark - 5 STAR SIGNAGE for 2027 upon La Mar Doha by Gastón Acurio in recognition of its outstanding culinary excellence, commitment to sustainable practices, distinctive gastronomic identity, and inspired approach to innovation, rooted in the rich traditions of Peruvian cuisine.

Created by acclaimed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio, one of the world’s greatest culinary figures, La Mar is an upscale restaurant concept designed to take its diners on a delicious exploration of the flavors of Peru. International Chef and Ambassador of Peruvian cuisine, Chef Gastón Acurio brings La Mar - one of his world-renowned concepts to Qatar. La Mar by Gastón Acurio offers an eclectic menu of Peruvian gastronomy for the first time ever in Doha.

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AMBASSADOR OF GLOBAL TASTE™ 2027 is an international 5-Star Certification Mark recognizing excellence across luxury hotels and resorts, high-end restaurants, catering establishments, and premium food destinations worldwide. The mark is emerging as the most prestigious distinction in the culinary world.

Jointly established by two internationally recognized and highly regarded organizations: AMBASSADORS OF TASTE FOR THE GLOBAL GASTRONOMY® organization and guide, and AUTHENTIC WORLD TASTE® (AWT) premium products certifiers, the certification program combines international recognition with 5-Star Signage, providing certified establishments with a prestigious mark that communicates their distinction, culinary identity, and commitment to excellence to a worldwide audience.

The certification is underpinned by a structured framework of quality criteria and the expertise of an International Jury Panel of distinguished culinary professionals, experts, and industry leaders.

For the first time in the world, this certification allows the restaurant to award its guests with official certificates of attendance through exclusive “Tasting Menu Events” — a groundbreaking concept that transforms fine dining into an unforgettable, participatory experience.

The Ambassadors of Taste for the Global Gastronomy® stands as a trailblazing, international platform for Public-Private Cooperation, offering an impartial and collaborative space for the world's top culinary and tourism professionals. “Our goal is to establish trust, create transformative initiatives, and build lasting partnerships that will shape the future of global gastronomy while safeguarding the diverse culinary identities, knowledge, and traditions passed down through generations.”

 

La Mar is a celebration of the traditional Peruvian cebichería, set within a casual yet upscale atmosphere that introduces Peruvian cuisine to its guests.

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Created by acclaimed Peruvian chef Gastón Acurio, La Mar is an upscale restaurant concept designed to take its diners on a delicious exploration of the flavors of Peru. International Chef and Ambassador of Peruvian cuisine, Chef Gastón Acurio brings La Mar - one of his world-renowned concepts to Qatar. La Mar by Gastón Acurio offers an eclectic menu of Peruvian gastronomy for the first time ever in Doha. Overlooking the Arabian Gulf, La Mar brings a vibrant dining experience for family and friends to gather and enjoy sharing of food in a contemporary setting. Look forward to his signature cebiche, fresh seafood, charcoal-grilled steaks, and a fine list of curated beverages at the stunning beachfront featuring an elegant interior and an outdoor terrace, paired with panoramic views of the Arabian Sea.

La Mar focuses on delivering fresh seafood direct from the sea that exemplifies authentic Peruvian flavors. The La Mar menu focuses on classic Peruvian dishes like cebiches (citrus-based marinated raw fish), tiraditos (thinly sliced seafood), and causas (potato-based dishes). It also features grilled anticuchos, which are skewers of marinated meat that pay homage to Peruvian street food. La Mar’s menus always feature fresh, local ingredients and incorporates a wide variety of seafood that Peru has to offers.

La Mar is committed to the environment. We promote sustainable seafood and actively work towards sourcing locally from fisherman and farmers. We are constantly striving towards a global sustainable business model. We pride ourselves on working with the best ingredients the oceans offer presenting flavorful preparations of whole fish from around the world, served directly at the table.

La Mar works with handcrafted and local tableware to provide a handmade look and feel, reflective of nature’s imperfections. Our tableware features items that are organic, textured, and varnished, appearing to have lived a life of their own. Connecting back to our inspirational seascape, the individual styles tend to emulate rocks, coral, fish scales, and the sea itself.

Gastón Acurio is a champion of Peruvian cuisine and uses La Mar as a platform to showcase Peru’s rich culinary heritage and the country’s emerging gastronomy on the world stage.

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LOCATIONS :

•  Lima, Peru

• Buenos Aires, Argentina

• Bogota, Columbia

•  Santiago, Chile

•  Miami, Florida

•  San Francisco, California

•  Doha, Qatar

• Dubai, UAE

• Bellevue, Washington (September 2024)

• Madrid, Spain (February 2025)

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The original design of La Mar was created in 2005 with a collaboration between the architectural team Nathan / Pereyra and the La Mar team. The aesthetic reflects the simplicity and austere elements of conventional Peruvian cebicherías, while the colors are meant to inspire a connection to the Peruvian coast with different natural shades of blues, greens, and browns.

In 2016 La Mar worked with internationally-acclaimed architect Jeffrey Beers to evolve our interior design scheme for the La Mar inside Atlantis The Royal in Dubai. The resulting design achieved a contemporary yet familiar feel incorporating the natural finishes key to La Mar’s experience in a vibrant, fresh way. Ushering in a new era, the Dubai design serves as a new beginning for future La Mar locations moving forward.

Vital to the energy and ambiance of our restaurants is the open floor plan. Featuring an exposed kitchen with open flames and a well-stocked cebiche bar, the action stations are exposed for every guest to engage with, creating a sense of connection and anticipation.

 

Executive Chef Frank Ponce – La Mar by Gastón Acurio and La Mar Beach at InterContinental Doha Beach & Spa.​

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Chef Frank Ponce is the Executive Chef of the award-winning restaurants La Mar by Gaston Acurio, La Mar Beach & Manko Doha at Intercontinental Doha Beach & Spa. He joined La Mar Doha, the first La Mar in the Middle East, in 2018 as part of the pre-opening team as Sous Chef before earning the role of Executive Chef of La Mar and Manko Doha in 2021. Chef Frank is also leading the opening of the first ever La Mar Beach, bringing diners a unique experience in Doha. La Mar Doha has consistently won awards since it opened its doors, including Best Restaurant in Doha at the Fact Dining Awards four years in a row. 

Chef Frank has over 13 years of experience, beginning his career at the age of 16 as a cook in a Peruvian Cebicheria. After years of invaluable experience working in restaurants serving Peruvian cuisine in Lima, Frank joined the Acurio group in 2014 with his first post as Chef de Partie in the renowned Astrid & Gaston, the most well-known restaurant under the Acurio group. Aside from Peru and Doha, Frank has also worked for luxury restaurant Picca in the United States and Michelin-starred restaurant L’erba del Re in Modena, Italy.  

Frank hails from Lima, Peru where he studied cooking first in his grandmother’s kitchen before sharpening his skills at D’Gallia Culinary School. He specialized in Peruvian, Italian, and Japanese cuisine.

Always eager to learn more and improve his knowledge in the culinary arts and hospitality industry, Frank also studied hotel management at La Universidad de San Martín de Porres, trained to be a sommelier at La Escuela Peruana de Sommeliers, and took a Masters in Italian cuisine and Oneology in Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners – ICIF in Italy.  

Frank aims to introduce everyone to Peruvian cuisine and share the vibrancy and flavours of his beloved dishes through his cooking.

Aside from cooking, Frank also enjoys football, swimming, and spending time with his wife and three cats: Alfajor, Toffee, and Truffa.  He can also speak four languages: Spanish, English, Italian, and basic French

 

 

LA MAR DOHA: https://lamarcebicheria.com/doha/

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AMBASSADORS OF GLOBAL TASTE™ 5 STAR SIGNAGE: https://www.ambassadorsoftaste.com/ambassador-of-global-taste​​

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